YOSSI BENAYOUN: WHATS REALLY GOING ON?

Mystery continues to surround the injury of Yossi Benayoun after Chelsea FC manager Carlo Ancelotti insisted today that his player showed no signs of carrying an achilles tear, that has now ruled the Israeli midfielder out for 6 months, when he was released on international duty with his country last week.

Reports had been circulating in the Israeli media this week that Chelsea staff had bungled their treatment of the player and despite subjecting him to MRI scans and extensive tests, the Blues medical team had missed what was initially rumored to be a small tear on his achilles tendon.

Speaking today at Cobham, Ancelotti was vocal in support of the medical team at his club but would not be drawn on speculation about how the Israeli picked up his injury.

“We are sure that when he left England that he didn’t have a tear on his tendon, we are sure of this. He had a problem on his calf, and the MRI showed this, but the tendon was clear,” said the manager.

“He had a problem at the start of the season, inflammation on the tendon, he had treatment, came back to play for us and also for the national team, but I don’t know what happened after.”

“He has to have surgery, we are disappointed for this because we lose a very good player. He was improving in the last game but now this is the situation.”

A Chelsea spokesman also added “When we released him for the national team, he wasn’t cleared to play.”

So it would be appear that the clubs version of events is at odds with the diagnosis of the Israeli FA’s team doctor who examined him in Tel Aviv. Quite what avenue the club will pursue in terms of questioning both the Israeli FA and the player himself remains to be seen.

With Chelsea looking to challenge for honours across all fronts, with, it has to be said a vastly smaller squad than the one that bought a Premier League and Cup double to Stamford Bridge last season, Benayoun’s injury will be seen as a huge blow and many are calling for the club to seek compensation from the Israeli FA for a player that has only been at the club since the summer. Much of this depends on there being a clear resolution from both parties on how this severe injury was picked up and under who’s supervision.

NOTE FROM THE WRITER:

This piece has been edited in light of Yossi Benayoun’s statement 18/10/2010 with regards to quotes incorrectly attributed to him. Cfcnet will always endeavour to throughly confirm and clarify all information reported on the site wherever possible.